A couple of weeks ago, I attended the Food Solutions Summit, hosted by the Rogue Valley Food System Network, at the OSU Agricultural Extension in Medford, Oregon. It was spring down in the valley, with ladybugs landing on my arm, crocuses and daffodils budding, and students working on an old tractor in the nearby field.
The Food Solutions Summit was the best conference-style event I’ve been to, from Solar to Yoga to Permaculture conferences, this was hands-down the most enjoyable. It was small and powerful. It packed a punch. It brought together people from Southern Oregon passionate about a healthier, equitable, sustainable, and eco-friendly local food distribution network: Companies looking for ways to give to their community, such as Rogue Creamery. Non-profits like Rogue Food Unites, The Crest at Willow-Witt, zero-food waste fans and food recyclers and composters like us, Ashland Community Composting, HealTerra out of Roseburg, Elaine Blatt with the Oregon DEQ, and chefs that use locally sourced ingredients, like Chef Kristen. All there to exchange ideas, needs, suggestions, resources. I came away, my head full of possibilities, amazed and thankful at our thriving and enterprising Rogue Valley community.